CalArts vs. MCC

Deciding between California Institute of the Arts and Manhattan Christian College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California Institute of the Arts

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CalArts Valencia, CA
  • MCC Manhattan, KS
  • Setting
  • CalArts Midsize Suburban
  • MCC Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • CalArts 1,277
  • MCC 160
  • Type
  • CalArts Private 4 Year
  • MCC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CalArts
  • MCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CalArts -
  • MCC Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
  • Status
  • CalArts Non-profit
  • MCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CalArts
  • MCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CalArts $58,996
  • MCC $19,126
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CalArts $58,996
  • MCC $19,126
  • Room & Board
  • CalArts $14,134
  • MCC $11,432
  • Average Net Price
  • CalArts $56,239
  • MCC $24,213
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CalArts $21,416
  • MCC $10,253
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CalArts 95%
  • MCC 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CalArts 2,004
  • MCC 55
  • Admitted
  • CalArts 648
  • MCC 55
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CalArts 32.3%
  • MCC 100% Open
  • Enrolled
  • CalArts 27.9%
  • MCC 67.3% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • CalArts
  • MCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • CalArts
  • MCC 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • CalArts -
  • MCC 3.24
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CalArts -
  • MCC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CalArts Unavailable
  • MCC Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CalArts High
  • MCC
  • ACT Range
  • CalArts
  • MCC 17/25
  • SAT Range
  • CalArts
  • MCC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CalArts Test-free
  • MCC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • CalArts Jan 5, 2027
  • MCC Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CalArts 7:1
  • MCC 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CalArts
    • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • MCC
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (68%)
    • Business (32%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CalArts 65%
  • MCC 38%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CalArts $50,400
  • MCC $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CalArts 64%
  • MCC 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CalArts $28,500
  • MCC N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CalArts $294
  • MCC N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CalArts 41%
  • MCC 50%
  • % Women
  • CalArts 59%
  • MCC 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CalArts Very High
  • MCC Very Low
  • HBCU
  • CalArts No
  • MCC No
  • % White
  • CalArts 42%
  • MCC 77%
  • % Asian
  • CalArts 16%
  • MCC 1%
  • % Black
  • CalArts 7%
  • MCC 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • CalArts 15%
  • MCC 6%
  • % Native American
  • CalArts 1%
  • MCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CalArts 1%
  • MCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CalArts 6%
  • MCC 1%
  • % International
  • CalArts 7%
  • MCC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CalArts 8%
  • MCC 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CalArts 36%
  • MCC 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CalArts 39%
  • MCC 48%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CalArts Yes
  • MCC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CalArts No
  • MCC No
  • Meal Plan
  • CalArts Yes
  • MCC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CalArts No
  • MCC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • CalArts No
  • MCC No

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Manhattan Christian College in Manhattan, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than MCC based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 160 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Manhattan Christian College is in Manhattan, KS (Remote Town setting).
  • California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Manhattan Christian College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Manhattan Christian College 10:1.

CalArts vs. MCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or MCC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Manhattan Christian College than CalArts ($24,213 vs. $56,239).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Manhattan Christian College are 19.1% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($11,432 vs. $14,134).
  • California Institute of the Arts is 208.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCC (about $39,870 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $19,126.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 208.5% higher at CalArts than at Manhattan Christian College (about $39,870 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $19,126.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at Manhattan Christian College (95% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 108.9% larger than aid received by Manhattan Christian College students ($21,416 vs. $10,253).

CalArts vs. MCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or MCC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MCC and CalArts.

  • Manhattan Christian College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsManhattan Christian College 17/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; MCC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027; MCC Mar 1, 2027.
  • MCC has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than CalArts (32.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 67.3% at MCC.

CalArts vs. MCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and MCC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • California Institute of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Manhattan Christian College's (38%).
  • Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $13,700 more per year than MCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More MCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.